Villagers Track Down Leopard After Attack

Three people in critical condition

Villagers in the Indian state of Assam raised a few eyebrows after they beat and hanged a leopard that had attacked a family in their home. The leopard entered the house of Haren Roy on Wednesday and attacked him and two other family members, placing all three in critical condition. The villagers chased down the leopard, and then beat it to death before hanging it by the neck from a tree.

India’s forest department has struggled to protect the endangered leopard, as violent encounters between the animal and humans have increased in recent years. Unofficial reports place the figure of leopards killed by humans at around 70 between 2005 and 2011. The villagers in Assam claim that they had attempted to contact the forest service but were forced to act before the animal committed more attacks.